In many recent crime and espionage movies, the audiences are convinced of how much the police or national security agencies know about the background, movements, and financial transactions of the suspected villains. Armed with such knowledge, the heroes and heroines assemble the clues to track the opponents and subdue them. The information is right there in the computers, right?
Garbage in, garbage out
It can be argued that internally in, or where close cooperation exists among, the developed countries, this scenario is not far fetched assuming the subject in question is indeed tracked in the database. The challenge comes when the subject is not in the database, such as potential villains who have never stepped foot on any of these developed countries. Many of the well known suspects are obviously tracked by the intelligence agencies, but what about hundreds other potential suspects?
We want to collect data on them too, but relying on foreign intelligence agencies to expand this kind of data collection is expensive and challenging to have it be exhaustive. Arguably, a better approach would be to have the locals collect the data in the manner that fit security needs. And then have the data be available for international cooperations.
Developed countries (especially those targeted by potential terrorists) ought to consider IT aid for the developing countries where the potential terrorists live. Specifically, IT aid that focuses on investments in building IT infrastructure that enables citizen identification and authentication. The key premise is to collect data at the source in the manner that can be used for international cooperations for crime and terror prevention.
Where there is a will ...
This idea sounds good in theory. In practice, there are a number of challenges to overcome. Some are obvious and takes some pragmatic solutions. Others are subtle and require mindset-changing persuasion and cultural sensitivity.
First of all, how to actually fund this thing? One potential option, among many, is to channel the IT aid into non-profit organisations that focuses on technology endeavour in developing countries. An example of such organisation is One Laptop Per Child, although this organisation currently does not focus on IT infrastructure. Another potential option is to bid the IT aid to be executed by private companies. In both cases, an oversight body will need to be set up for monitoring purposes.
Conceptually, there will be resistance from the people. Many voices in the aid-receiving countries may suspect this as another form of colonialism effort. And within the investing countries, there will be concerned voices on helping corrupt governments that may inadvertently benefit the radical extremists in the receiving countries. These concerns will require politically-sensitive negotiations to resolve and transparent multi-lateral cooperations.
Lack of effective check and balance in developing countries also raises concerns over potential abuse against their own citizens or misuse that may end up supporting criminal or terror acts. Therefore the IT build-up needs to be balanced with, among others, cyber-security infrastructure, legal system, technical and non-technical education for the local agencies, etc. Naturally, foreign intelligence data gathering still needs to continue in some form so there is a capability to cross check the data.
Last but not least, the process of initiating, implementing, and realising the benefits will take a long time. Anybody who understands developing-countries' cultural and political business environment would attest to it. On the other hand, a proactive and focused strategy will have greater chance, than the alternative, in bringing about desirable progress. Better slow than never.
Return on investment
The return from such IT aid should focus on one main thing: potentially saving lives through international cooperation on crime and terror prevention. Achieving this alone, justifies the investment.
Additionally, improved security climate potentially increases confidence among business investors which can bring in further foreign direct investments. Increased investments obviously improve the economy. And the benefit does not stop there. Citizen identification and authentication plays an important role in credit financing. And credit, when not abused, supports economic growth which, in turn, improves citizen prosperity. As the saying goes, "rising tide lifts all boats".
Eventually, prosperity leads to better education and better education helps society recognise and, hopefully, avoid radical extremism. Thus it comes full circle: IT aid can lead to security benefits which potentially lead to economic benefits, which in turns enforces the security benefits.
- -January 2009